Gary Gygax has passed. RIP beloved father of RPG's. (merged)

[Wik]

this is never a way to start your day. I turned on my computer early this morning, and just saw the headline "Gary Gygax has passed"

I couldn't even check the thread, because everyone on ENWorld was posting here. I had to confirm it on Wikipedia. Really, REALLY sucked.

My gaming group talked about it today. Kind of weird - we realized we wouldn't be around the table, joking around and having fun, were it not for him.

A lot of my great memories and loves come from D&D. My interest in Mesopotamia (which lead to my interest in archaeology, which led to my love of Anthropology, which is my main love) is because of D&D, and the old mythology books. My favourite band (Kyuss) is named after a god he created. And so many of my favourite books were those I got into to better understand D&D (I'm one of those people who got into sci-fi and fantasy from playing D&D, not the other way around).

It's really hard for me to imagine a world without D&D - I would be a completely different person. Probably a shyer, nerdier kid who felt out of touch. I owe Gary a lot.

Anyways, yeah. This really, REALLY sucks. I hope he's in Elysium, or some other place. My condolences to the family.

 

[Knightfall]

I only just saw this now. It is strange to be so sad about the death of a man I never knew. I'm actually crying, and it takes a lot to make me cry.

Dungeons and Dragons means so much to me; I don't think I would be alive today without it. It saved me from the apathy of my youth. It never made me popular, but it did make me want to learn about words, mythology, history, and art.

Greyhawk has always been my favorite D&D setting and it the fact that people still love it is a testament to Gary and his circle of gaming friends and family. The world shall remain a benchmark that all other D&D campaigns are measured against, IMO.

Thank you Mr. Gygax for creating a game that has given me more joy than I ever could have imagined in those painful years before discovering D&D. You have touched my life without even knowing me as well as the lives of millions of gamers worldwide.

I thank you, I thank you, I thank you.

Rest in Peace.

 

[green slime]

Words fail me.

Thanks Gary, for all the good times.

 

[Gnarlo]

So hard to believe the great Dungeonmaster is gone. Thanks to you, Mr Gygax, for giving me nearly 3 decades of funtimes, good friends, and fighting the darkness. You are greatly missed.

May your ale always be cold, and your dice always roll high (unless you need to roll low). Goodbye, sir.

 

[Kegcrusher]

Goodbye Mr. Gygax

Thanks for everything Gary. Its amazing the impact this man had on popular culture and peoples personal lives that folks don't even recognize yet. Mourn his passing but celebrate what he did. All condolences to his family he will be missed.

 

[meomwt]

I've managed to read less than half of the tributes here (and will read more later), but it is clear that this was a man loved by those who'd never met him.

Gary was kind enough to answer some of my impertinant questions over on Dragonsfoot. And he did so with a wit and a courtesy which seemed to indicate it was a pleasure (rather than a chore) to do so.

I'm sure that the Colonel would be smiling to know that I raised a glass of the finest Irish Whiskey in his honiour last evening.

RIP Gary. And thanks for bringing so much enjoyment to so many people.

 

[D20Dazza]

RIP Mr Gygax from Downunder - you gave me so much and asked for nothing in return.

 

[cptkevin]

Rest in peace my dear friend.
Thanx a lot for all fantastic moments u gave us.

May the God bless u.

Cptkevin

 

[Darrin Drader]

I have to admit that I found myself tearing up several times today, especially when reading through the tributes to him on various messageboards. It was hard to stay seated at my desk and continue pounding out the product I'm currently working on, knowing that the man who made this possible is no more. Tonight I took a walk as I typically do a couple times a week. I like to go through the neighborhoods where I grew up, circle around the highschool and all the sports fields surrounding it, and then go back to my house. Tonight was a clear windless night with crisp cold air and bright stars above. As I went, it occurred to me how lucky I was to be alive to savor this walk. A human life is the blink of an eye to the universe, but if you add up all of the time from all of the lives Gary Gygax positively affected, it is no mere blink of an eye, but millions of years. The length of time it took for life to crawl up out of the oceans and transform into human beings. Maybe longer....

As I saw the familiar sites of my childhood, I was reminded how large a role D&D played in my young life and how that was all possible because of this one man who contributed so much and was always there for his fans, all the way until the end. On the way back around the highschool I saw something unusual. Deer! Two of them -- one of which was not fifty feet away. That had never happened before. I returned home, sat down, neared my daily wordcount goal, read some more memorials, and quietly thanked Gary for this wonderful living he made possible. And then I reminded myself again how lucky I am to be alive and wished that this great man could be the same.

Thank you Gary, for everything. Thank you. With luck we'll meet one day, but hopefully not for many, many years to come.

 

[Largomad]

Su juego ha sido un compañero constante en mi vida, sin él mi mundo hubiera sido mucho más gris. Gracías por todo Gary.

 

[Knightfall]

I have to admit that I found myself tearing up several times today, especially when reading through the tributes to him. It was hard to stay seated at my desk and continue pounding out the product I'm currently working on, knowing that the man who made this possible is no more. Tonight I took a walk as I typically do a couple times a week. I like to walk through the neighborhoods where I grew up, circle around the highschool and all the sports fields surrounding it, and then walk back to my house. Tonight was a clear windless night with crisp cold air and bright stars above. As I walked, it occurred to me how lucky I was that I was to be alive to savor this walk. A human life is the blink of an eye to the universe, but if you add up all of the time from all of the lives Gary Gygax positively affected, it is no mere blink of an eye.

As I saw the familiar sites of my childhood, I was reminded how large a role D&D played in my young life and how that was all possible because of this one man who contributed so much and was always there for his fans, all the way until the end. On the way back around the highschool I saw something unusual. Deer! Two of them -- one of which was not fifty feet away. That had never happened before. I returned home, sat down, neared my daily wordcount goal, read some more memorials, and quietly thanked Gary for this wonderful living he made possible. And then I reminded myself again how lucky I am to be alive and wished that this wonderful man could be the same.

Thank you Gary, for everything. Thank you. With luck we'll meet one day, but hopefully not for a many, many years.

Great post, Darrin. You made me all teary.

 

[Lanefan]

Coming in a bit late, but add one more voice to the chorus of fond goodbyes to a man never met but somehow always known.

Condolences to Mr. Gygax's family and friends.

Lanefan

p.s. Alzrius (sp.?) - brilliant tribute rewording of American Pie, above in this thread - can someone please archive it?

 

[Felonious Monk]

I sort of found out by accident, but didn't believe it until I read it here. The world's worse off without him, but at least it can be said that he made an impact while he was here. I can honestly say I would not be the person I am today if not for E. Gary Gygax, and his passing has cut me to the core. May his legacy live on in the stories he told and the lives he touched.

ILM

 

[Cold0]

Rest in Peace Gary and thanks for all.

 

[Olive]

I, to my surprise, actually did cry after reading the Order of the Stick.

I'm a gamer before I'm almost anything (except a father I think). It defines me in all sorts of ways. That, indirectly, is thanks to Gary Gygax. He was one of my earliest heroes and I'm sad he's gone.

 

[Dr Simon]

Sad news indeed.

We salute you, Great EGG. I think I shall dig out my old 1st Ed. DMG and read a bit of Gygaxian prose in tribute.

 

[Lorion]

Oh my god... this is terrible news. My gf and me just read it over at rpgnow and the wizards homepage... sad day

 

[Aris Dragonborn]

SciFi.com has the news as well.

Some of the best times in my life have come as a result of Dungeons & Dragons.

Most of my friendships began because of Dungeons & Dragons.

I owe quite a bit to this game, and to one man.

Gary Gygax.

Thank You Gary, for your creation, and for your dedication to your games.

Rest In Peace.

 

[Turbiales]

Sad day indeed, he was a great influence in starting our hobby as we known it.

 

[Goldmoon]

Rest in Peace, sir. No matter what trials and troubles I was experiencing, I could always gather 'round the table with friends and play. A module never judged me, a rulebook never called me names and dice never turned their back when I needed them. Mr Gygax, you gave me joy, adventure and fellowship and for that, you will always be dear to my heart. Tonight, I set an empty place at my table for you and salute your life and the lives youve touched.